GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WKYT) - Police are investigating a violent shoplifting incident where a man assaulted a clerk and threatened to kill her child.

The crime happened Wednesday at Georgetown Shoes.

Tracy Thompson, the owner's wife, says two white men walked into the store around 1:30 p.m. and were acting very suspicious.

One quickly left, but the other continued to browse. Thompson says she questioned him when he tried to leave the store with stolen items.

"I pretty much chased him down and, um, I went to go grab his arm and that's when things turned very badly," Thompson says. "He struck me on the right side of the face and then he also pulled out a large knife and threatened to slash my throat."

Thompson says the man also threatened to kill Thompson's 4-year-old son and mother-in-law. They were both in the store at the time.

Thompson was able to take a picture of the suspect with her phone as he walked away.

She describes him as a white male in his late 20's or early 30's. He was wearing a black hat with a blue UK logo.

He also had a tattoo on his hand that read "evil."

Georgetown Police say they consider the man dangerous and are asking anyone who might know who he is to call them.